John 3:1-21

Nicodemus

Now we consider the famous encounter between Nicodemus and Jesus at night. The fact that Nicodemus would come to Jesus at all sets him apart from the other “leaders” of his day. He was actually willing to examine what this extraordinary Rabbi had to say instead of being smug in his dogmatic little Pharisee shell. And boy did he get an ear full.

Born again? What is that? Oh, Jesus is speaking figuratively and not just literally. He doesn’t mean entering a second time into the womb to be born. Since He only does what He sees the Father doing that must mean that the Father sometimes speaks figuratively. This figure happens to be quite precise. We are born in the natural (of water) but we need a rebirth of the Spirit in order to even see the kingdom.

Let’s take another “figurative” symbol from Moses. Literally Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. And literally those who looked at the lifted serpent were healed. But as wonderful as that was it pales in comparison to what it figuratively pointed toward. This is how salvation works! The Son of Man must be lifted up as well. Whoever looks to Him will be saved!

Saved from what? From death! Whoever believes on Him will not die. Oh, and one other thing, God doesn’t just love the Jews. He loves the whole world. He loves the entire stinking rebellious broken condemned world. Believe on the Son and have eternal life.

This is the light. To cling to your sins, your works of “righteousness”, your rules and dogmas is to hate light and embrace evil. To come in to this light is to do the work that God requires.

I not sure what Nicodemus was expecting to get when he came to Jesus for a chat that night. I am quite sure that he got much more than he bargained for. We all did.